Mumbai: Infosys Technologies, India’s No. 2 software exporter, has been selected to implement a Rs3.87 billion ($83 million) IT project for Karnataka’s power distribution utilities, two government officials said.

“We have issued the letter of intent to Infosys," a source at the Bangalore utility said on condition of anonymity as he is not authorised to speak to the media.

“It will cover entire Karnataka," he said.

The project was awarded by all five electricity distribution utilities in the state last week and will cover 100 towns in the state, he said. Infosys outbid 10 other companies, including Tata Consultancy Services, for the contract, the source said.

The projects must be implemented within 36 months, the other source said.

Infosys officials could not be reached for comment.

The project is part of a central government-funded program to use information technology to cap electricity losses in the country.

Tata Consultancy and HCL Infosystems Ltd have won contracts for similar projects in West Bengal and Rajasthan, respectively.